Cartons



vJune 5, 1956 B. H. KRAVITZ CARTONS Filed July 17, 1953 jefzzczra 77 K2 2 52 2? BY 0 '1 I; may

United States Patent CARTONS Bernard H. Kravitz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cooper fiart'on Corporation, Chicago, III., a corporation of linois Application July 17,1953, Serial No. 368,738

Claims. (Cl. 229-'-39) This invention relates to a carton for packaging irregularly-shaped articles both for viewing and shipping. This invention has particular utility in packaging such articles in oversize rectangular cartons equipped with display windows where it is desired to hold the objects in substantially fixed positions with respect to the display windows and to support them against shocks in handling the package.

The packaging of irregularly-shaped articles, such as sponges, scouring pads, etc., or articles which might be damaged in handling of the package has presented a dithcult problem, especially where it is desired to package such articles in display window-equipped cartons economically and eliiciently, and although the invention is described herein essentially in relation to supporting an article in display position with respect to a window, it is contemplated that the article is also supported against shock with or without a window.

Articles of the types mentioned can vary in size from one article to another or be individually very small, and the dimensions thereof may be subject to changes due to the handling of the articles in manufacture or during packaging. This usually requires or it isdesirable to package such articles in oversize cartons so that they can. be readily inserted in the cartonby a filling machine even though the articlesbeing filled may be small or vary somewhat in size, shape and contour. However, this use of oversize cartons allows the articles to shift about within the carton, which in many cases is quite undesirable. This is particularly. true where the cartons are equipped with display windows through which the articles can be viewed or is subject to damage, since it is usually desirable to maintain the articles in a substantially fixed display position or relationship to the display Window and in some instances against shock in handling the package.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a. carton structure for packaging undersize, or irregularly-shaped articles which substantially overcomes the problem discussed above. More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a carton structure in a window-equipped carton which provides a means for holding. a loose-fitting object in substantially fixed relation in the carton and with respect toa display window, while at the same time not interfering with the insertion of the article in the carton. Another object is to find a means for accomplishing the objects just set out without increasing the cost of manufacturing the cartons, or increasing the number of steps required to package an article in the cartons. A still further object is to develop a carton or box structure of the character indicated which is particularly adapted for use with automatic filling machines which machines hold the cartons square for tucking. Further objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

This invention is shown in an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank from which a carton can be formed embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view with the tuck folded back to disclose the ear-equipped flaps constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view taken in section on line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of. one of the earequipped flaps taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Looking first mainly at Fig. 3, there is shown a carton 10 providing a storage space 11 accessible through an opening in a side of the carton. In the illustration given, storage space 11 is accessible from both ends of the. carton. The openings 12 at each end of the carton are. closed by a pair of flaps 13- and a closure or tuck 14. Flaps 13 are foldably attached on opposite sides of opening 12 and are dimensioned and arranged for swinging into the storage space 11.

In accordance with the present invention, flaps 13 are equipped with ears 15 arranged to project outwardly when the flaps are swung into storage space 11 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. Tuck 14 is foldably attached to-another side of the carton about opening 12. Tuck 14 is dimensioned and arranged for folding over flaps 13, and has a tongue portion 16 insertable into storage space 11 for locking the tuck in closed position.

There is illustrated in Fig. 3 an irregularly-shaped object 17 within a storage space 11, which in the illustration given is a scouring pad formed of interwoven plastic filaments. Article 17, as seen more clearly in Fig. 3 is engaged by the inner edges of flaps 13, which in'turn are held in engaged position by ears 15 bearing against tuck 14 at its fold point where the leverage is the greatest to hold the flaps 13 in place. In other words, outwardly-projecting ears 15 engage tuck 14 so as to hold the inner edges of the ear-equipped flaps 13 within storage space 11 at a spaced distance from tuck 14 when the tuck is in its closed position. In the illustration given, this, of course, applies to both ends of the carton, since both of the end openings 12 are provided with ear-equipped'flaps 13 and tucks 14. It. will be seen that the inner edges of the flap resiliently cushion the article as well as holding the article in predetermined position.

Preferably, as illustrated, ears 15 are foldably attached to the edges of flaps 13 running along the edges of carton 10 to which tucks 14 are foldably attached. This preferred relationship is seen more clearly in Fig. 4.

Fig. 1 showsthe blank A from which the carton of Figs. 2-4 can be assembled. Panel portion 18 which isadapted to form the top of carton 10 is provided with a display window 19 through which an. article within the carton can be viewed. From what has been previously said, it will be understood that where a display window such as display window 19 is provided, it is particularly important to maintain an article within a carton in correct display, registry with the window. With the structure previouslydescribed, this can be readily accomplished because the inner edges of .flaps 13. are heldin engagement with the endsof the article, such.as.article 17. It can .be seen,.partic'ularly from Fig. 3 of, the drawing, that the freedom of movement of. article 17 isrestricted by the inward extensiono f flaps 13, and that the article tends to be maintained in a fixed position by'its locking engagement with the inner edges of the flaps. This has been found to be an excellent method of holding an undersize or irregularly-shaped article in a predetermined relationship to a display window.

Blank A is formed into a rectangular carton by well known folding procedures. For example, glue flap 20 is adhesively secured to the underside of side panel 21 by folding the blank about fold lines 22, 23, 24, and 25 to partially enclose the rectangular storage space 11, top

panel 18 being brought into parallel alignment with bottom panel 26 and side panel 21 into parallel alignment with side panel 27. If desired, the carton can then be collapsed for storage, or immediately filled with the article.

The article is inserted into storage space 11 through either of the end openings 12. This can readily be done because the article will usually be of considerably smaller dimensions than openings 12 and will fit loosely within storage space 11. The flaps 13 are then folded over openings 12 and at the same time ears 15 are folded outwardly by their inward movement over the tucks 14. Tucks 14 are then folded inwardly over flaps 13 which automatically swings the flaps inwardly to the positions illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 of the drawing. The tongue portion 16 of each tuck 14 is inserted within the storage space above the edges of the flaps so as to lock the tuck in closed position.

Preferably, ears 15 are dimensioned so that when they are lying in he same plane as the flaps to which they are attached, they will extend beyond the tuck-equipped side of the carton. This is desirable so that cars 15 will automatically be camnied into an outwardly-extending position by the inward folding of flaps 13. Further, it will be noted that point 15a of the ears, as seen more clearly in Fig. 3, bears against tuck 14, and acts as a contact displacement high point for conrolling the inner position of flaps 13. In other words, by varying the width of cars 15 adjacent point 15a, it is possible to either increase or decrease the degree of inward turning of flaps 13.

While in the foregoing specification a preferred embodiment of this invention has been set forth for purpose of illustration and specific details thereof have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is susceptible to other embodiments and that many of the specific details set forth can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a carton providing a storage space accessible through an opening in a side of the carton, a pair of flaps foldably attached to the edges of opposite sidewalls bordering the opening, said flaps being folded to extend into the storage space of said carton, at least one of said flaps having an ear projecting outwardly from the flap in a direction towards said opening and away from the main portion of the storage space and means for closing said opening including an element foldably attached to a sidewall bordering said opening intermediate said opposite sidewalls, said ear normally extending beyond the plane of the intermediate sidewall when the carton is squared preliminary to closing said opening and said element being folded over said flaps and engaging said outwardly-projecting ear adjacent said intermediate sidewall to hold the inner end of said one of the flaps within said storage space at a distance spaced from said element with said means in position closing said opening, and means securing said element in said closed position.

2. In a carton providing a storage space accessible through an opening in a side of the carton, a pair of flaps foldably attached on opposite sidewalls bordering the opening, said flaps being folded to extend into the storage space of said carton, each of said flaps having an ear foldably attached thereto and projecting outwardly in a direction towards said opening and away from the main portion of the storage space, and a tuck foldably attached to a third sidewall bordering said opening, said tuck being folded over said flaps and having a tongue portion inserted into said storage space and locking said tuck in position closing said opening, said ears extending normally edgewise beyond the adjacent one of the fold lines between said intermediate sidewall, and said opposite walls prior to said closing and after said closing engaging along the line of fold attachment of said tuck, said outwardlyprojecting ears being engaged by said tuck in its closed position to hold the inner ends of said flaps within said storage space at a distance spaced from said tuck.

3. In a rectangular carton providing a rectangular storage space therewithin accessible through openings in both ends of said carton, a pair of flaps foldably attached to sidewalls of said carton at said both ends adjacent said openings, said flaps being folded to extend into the storage space of said carton, and means at each end of the carton foldably attached to a sidewall adjacent said openings to close said openings, one of said means including a tuck folded over a pair of said flaps and having a tongue portion inserted into said storage space and closing said opening, said carton having a display window arranged to permit an article within said carton to be viewed, said pairs of flaps having integral ears foldably attached to an edge of each flap and extending normally beyond the plane of said adjacent sidewall prior to said closing as when said carton is squared for closing and after said closing engaging along a fold attachment of said means, each ear projecting outwardly towards said opening and away from the main portion of said storage space at an angle to the plane of the flap to which each is attached, said ears being engaged by said closing means to hold the inner ends of said flaps within said storage space at a spaced distance from said closing means.

4. In a carton providing a storage space, a pair of flaps foldably attached on Opposite sidewalls bordering an opening in the carton through which access to the storage space is provided, said flaps being folded to extend into the storage space of said carton, at least one of said flaps having an ear projecting laterally along one edge thereof and bent outwardly in a direction towards the opening and away from the main portion of the storage space, and means for closing said opening including an element foldably attached to another sidewall of said carton and folded over said flaps, said outwardly-projecting ear normally extending beyond the plane of said other sidewall when the carton is squared prior to said closing and after said closing being engaged by said element to hold the inner end of said one flap within said storage space at a distance spaced from said element.

5. The combination called for in claim 4 in which the combined lengths of said flaps in a direction towards each other is less than the width of said opening between the fold attachment lines of the flaps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 530,239 Peterson Dec. 4, 1894 1,343,002 Markert June 8, 1920 1,806,149 Daugherty May 19, 1931 1,850,329 Metzger Mar. 22, 1932 2,322,389 Price June 22, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 194,651 Great Britain June 13, 1922 558,054 Great Britain 1. Dec. 17, 1943 

